Baked Orzo Recipe

This Baked Orzo recipe is a delicious side dish that can easily be made into the star of the show.

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If you’ve never tried creating a baked orzo dish, now is the time! The pasta is cooked right in the dish and you can customize it endlessly, so it couldn’t be simpler. This is one of those dishes that will taste like you fussed over it for hours, but in reality, you were busy doing other things while it baked to perfection.

This is a versatile pasta dish—easy to prepare, customize, and even eat—no twirling here! After you make this once, you’ll have plenty of ideas for different and unique twists you can add to it the next time. It will become a weekly standard on your menu, but nothing will be standard about it, because you’ll customize it each week into something unexpected and fun. The only thing holding you back is your imagination.

Is Baked Orzo Healthy?

This creamy and comforting dish is a reasonably healthy recipe as written, and with the addition of vegetables, it can only get better. It’s a good source of calcium, iron, fiber, and protein. It’s also a vegetarian recipe, that can easily be made vegan by swapping in a plant-based version of the mozzarella (such as Daiya’s or Violife’s) and some nutritional yeast in place of the Parmesan.

Ways to Customize Baked Orzo…

Let’s start with proteins, which guarantees this will be a tasty main dish each week. A can of beans is generally the most straightforward and least expensive addition, adding significantly to the health profile as they’re high in fiber and protein. A simple white bean like white kidney or navy beans will work well.

Roasted veggies are another option. The possibilities are virtually endless here. Red, yellow, and orange peppers will give you plenty of vitamin C. Chopped spinach will provide more iron, and mushrooms will add fiber and protein. Chopped kale, artichokes, black olives, zucchini, and fresh basil are all good in any combination or alone.

Different cheeses are another way to customize. Try vegan cheeses, feta, smoked Gouda, goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, or Romano. Any melty cheese you like the flavor of will work. You could also try softer cheeses, like cottage cheese or ricotta.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup orzo pasta
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Sauté onion and garlic; add orzo.

Simmer

Mix in broth and tomato sauce; bring to simmer.

Bake

Transfer to baking dish, top with cheese, and bake.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

This dish can be prepped in advance (everything but the baking). Then store it in the fridge for up to a day covered with tin foil. When ready to cook, bring it to room temperature while the oven heats, and pop it into the oven when ready. Once baked, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave until warmed through, or in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.

Can baked orzo be gluten-free?

To make a gluten-free baked orzo dish, use gluten-free orzo, but also check the labels on the tomato sauce and the vegetable broth, as they may contain gluten, too.

Serving Suggestions

A crispy, bright green salad with various colorful veggies would be the first choice to accompany this creamy and comforting casserole. You might also consider Panna Cotta for dessert or Coconut Milk Quinoa Fruit Salad.

If you’re looking for other tasty, easy, and customizable dishes to add to your menu rotation, try a Buddha Bowl, a Broccoli Pasta Salad or perhaps one of these many ideas for High Protein Salads.